Islam is not the majority religion in the Philippines. According to the local statistics agency, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), 81.04% of the population follows Roman Catholicism and only 5.6% of the population is Muslim.

Islam has entered the Philippines since 1380 through an Indonesian migrant of Minangkabau descent named Raja Bagindo and a Persian Islamic cleric, Karimal Makhdum.

It is said that Raja Bagindo was a member of the Pagaruyung Kingdom family. Islam was first spread in Mindanao Island and Sulu Island, the two regions with the largest Muslim population in the Philippines.

In 2002, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared Eid al-Fitr a national holiday, which could be considered a special gift to the Muslim community in the Philippines. To reinforce the decision, President Arroyo made it into law. After this decision, Islam spread like wildfire.

Before 2000, it would be hard to find a place of worship for Muslims in Manila. However, that is not the case now. For example, when traveling to the capital city of Manila, it is not difficult to find mosques, suraus, or prayer rooms alongside beautifully designed churches.

When it is time for a prayer, the call to prayer (azan) can be heard from various corners of Manila, especially in coastal areas around Manila Bay such as Ermita and Intramuros which are populated by local Muslim communities and immigrants. Interestingly, sometimes the azan time coincides with the sound of church bells marking the time for mass, creating a solemn atmosphere.

There are no barriers for followers of different religions to greet each other and engage in activities together in everyday life. It is also very common now to see women wearing hijabs or men wearing gamis (traditional Islamic clothing) with thick beards shopping at the SM Mall of Asia, the largest shopping in the Philippines and one of the largest in the world.

The mall with a land area of 42 hectares is the most popular destination for Muslims living in the coastal areas of Manila during the month of Ramadan. They spend their time strolling around the mall, waiting for the time to break their fast (iftar) while enjoying the sunset.

Several halal food and drink stalls are perfect for iftar. Several stores even provide takjil (small snacks and drinks for iftar) such as dates and free mineral water.

Arroyo’s policy also paved the way for the Filipino Muslim community to establish an Islamic Center. It is located right behind Malacanang Presidential Palace, at Barangay 645, San Miguel District, Manila. The Islamic Center stands on a 1.6-hectare land and is home to around 32,000 Muslims who are mostly from the Maranao ethnic group. The rest are from Maguindanao, Iranun, Tausug, Yakan, and Sama ethnic groups.

Cahyo Pamungkas, a researcher of the Center of Regional Research (P2W) of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), said in his talk titled “Minorities in Southeast Asia” that the majority of those residing in the Islamic Center are migrants from Mindanao and Sulu in the southern Philippines. The place was initially a school building owned by the Chinese community.

Duterte’s Role

The land was then sold to Filipino Muslims in 1964. Gradually, a mosque was built, and it became the first place of worship for Muslims in Manila. It was initially only used for Friday prayers. After receiving assistance from the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the building was expanded and transformed into a more magnificent structure.

When a conflict erupted in Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines from the 1970s to 1990s, many residents fled and chose to settle at Barangay 645. As a result, the population in the area exploded to 50,000 people. The area became disorderly, slummy, and dirty.

Some of the old residents opted to leave and settle in other areas while starting to build their own communities. They became pioneers in the establishment of Islamic houses of worship in the corners of Manila. President Rodrigo Duterte made an interesting statement during his campaign in Moro on 15 February 2019.

The president, a Catholic, recited the takbir (declaration of Allah’s greatness) several times and mentioned that a part of him is Muslim. During the Duterte era, Muslims in the southern Philippines were given the freedom to manage their own region or known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). “In order to have an impact on local political and economic progress,” said Duterte as quoted from ABS-CBN News.

In his speech welcoming Ramadan on 14 April 2021, President Duterte called on everyone to work together in channeling the spirit of the holy month by helping those who are less fortunate and in need. “I ask everyone to promote solidarity among all Filipinos by embodying faith through actions and fostering peace, brotherhood, and unity in these challenging times,” he said, as quoted from Inquirer.

Duterte, who was in office from 2016 to 2022, also reminded all governors and mayors that Eid al-Fitr is a national holiday. He allowed for Eid prayers to be held in open fields in downtown Manila. As a result, thousands of Muslims crowded several fields in Manila, including Quezon City Memorial Circle, a 27-hectare ellipse national park with the tomb of the first Philippine President, Manuel Luis Quezon, on one side.

Thousands of others crowded into the grand mosques of Manila, such as the Pink Mosque and the Golden Mosque. They also prepared traditional Filipino dishes on their dining tables at home during Eid al-Fitr and invited their non-Muslim neighbors to taste the dishes.

The dishes include bulalo (beef marrow soup), kaldereta (soup made with beef or goat meat mixed with mung beans, cheese, carrots, and potatoes), sinigang (sour soup mixed with various vegetables, chicken, or fish), and tinolang manok (chicken curry). The drinks include buko pandan (coconut and pandan-flavored ice) and mango juice.

Writer: Anton Setiawan

Editors: Ratna Nuraini/Elvira Inda Sari/Penny P. Rusman

Translator: Wisnu Wardoyo